Security measures blamed for student desertions

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 September 1999, 02:55 GMT]Students attending Tellipallai Mahajana College, which began functioning in its own buildings this Wednesday after nine years, have been subjected to severe body checking, said sources. The school is in the security zone.

Students coming from Kankesanthurai and Ambanai areas have been asked to hand over their identity cards at two army check points. Thereafter security forces transport them in their vehicles to the school, sources said.

During school hours no outsiders are allowed to enter the college premises. Students are also not allowed to leave the security zone during school hours, added sources.

These restrictions imposed by the army have caused severe hardships to the students and about 400 students have left the school, the sources said.

Earlier the total strength of the students was at about 1300, school sources said.

Most of the buildings of the college have been found damaged, school sources added.

Tellipalai Mahajana College, a leading educational institution in the peninsula was moved out to Pandatharippu Hindu College in October 1990. From there it was shifted to Inuvil Central College and then to Alaveddy Arunothaya Vidiyalayam.